Il-5 inhibiting 6-azauracil derivatives

ABSTRACT

The present invention is concerned with the compounds of formula (I), a N-oxide, a pharmaceutically acceptable addition salt, a quaternary amine or a stereochemically isomeric form thereof, wherein p is 0 to 4; q is 0 to 5; X is O, S, NR 3  or a direct bond; or —X—R 2  is CN; R 1  is H, OH, halo, NH 2 , mono- or di(C 1-4 alkyl)NH 2 , C 1-6 alkyl, C 1-6 alkylO, C 3-7 cycloalkyl, aryl, arylC 1-6 alkyl, NH 2 C 1-4 akyl, mono- or di(C 1-4 alkyl)NH 2 C 1-4 akyl or mono- or di(C 1-4 alkyl)NH 2 C 1-4 alkylNH 2 ; R 2  is aryl, Het 1 , optionally substituted C 3-7 cycloalkyl, optionally substituted C 1-6 alkyl; R 3  is H or C 1-4 alkyl; R 4  and R 5  are —C(═O)—Z—R 14 , C 1-6 alkyl, halo, polyhaloC 1-6 alkyl, OH, mercapto, C 1-6 alkylO, C 1-6 alkylthio, C 1-6 alkylC(═O)O, aryl, cyano, nitro, Het 3 , R 6 , NR 7 R 8  or C 1-4 alkyl substituted with —C(═O)—Z—R 14 , Het 3 , R 6  or NR 7 R 8 ; Z is O, S, NH, —CH 2 O or —CH 2 —S—; R 14  is H, C 1-20 acyl, optionally substituted C 1-20 alkyl, optionally substituted C 3-20 alkenyl, C 3-20 alkynyl, C 3-7 cycloalkyl, polyhaloC 1-20 alkyl, Het 5 , phenyl; or R 14  is an oxygen containing radical; aryl is optionally substituted phenyl; Het 1 , Het 2 , Het 3  and Het 5  are optionally substituted heterocycles; Het 4  is a monocyclic heterocycle; provided however that R 2  is other than NH 2 C(═O), C 1-6 alkylOC(═O)C 1-6 alkyl; and R 11  is other than COOH, C 1-4 alkylOC(═O), NH 2 C(═O), C 1-4 alkylNH 2 C(═O), OHC 1-4 alkylNH 2 C(═O), C 1-4 alkylC(═O)NH 2 C(═O), C 3-7 cycloalkylNH 2 C(═O); and R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , R 10 , R 12 , R 13 , R 15  and R 16  are other than C 1-4 alkylC(═O)OC 1-4 alkylC(═O), OHC 1-4 alkylC(═O); and Het 3  is other than a monocyclic heterocycle substituted with COOH or C 1-4 alkylOC(═O); and the compounds of formula (I) contain at least one —C(═O)—Z—R 14  moiety: to processes for their preparation and compositions comprising them. It further relates to their use as a medicine.

The present invention concerns novel IL-5 inhibiting 6-azauracil derivatives useful for treating eosinophil-dependent inflammatory diseases; to processes for their preparation and compositions comprising them. It further relates to their use as a medicine.

Eosinophil influx, leading to subsequent tissue damage, is an important pathogenic event in bronchial asthma and allergic diseases. The cytokine interleukin-5 (IL-5), produced mainly by T lymphocytes as a glycoprotein, induces the differentiation of eosinophils in bone marrow and, primes eosinophils for activation in peripheral blood and sustains their survival in tissues. As such, IL-5 plays a critical role in the process of eosinophilic inflammation. Hence, the possibility that inhibitors of IL-5 production would reduce the production, activation and/or survival of eosinophils provides a therapeutic approach to the treatment of bronchial asthma and allergic diseases such as, atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis, and also other eosinophil-dependent inflammatory diseases.

Steroids, which strongly inhibit IL-5 production in vitro, have long been used as the only drugs with remarkable efficacy for bronchial asthma and atopic dermatitis, but they cause various serious adverse reactions such as diabetes, hypertension and cataracts. Therefore, it would be desirable to find non-steroidal compounds having the ability to inhibit IL-5 production in human T-cells and which have little or no adverse reactions.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,631,278 discloses α-aryl-4-(4,5-dihydro-3,5-dioxo-1,2,4-triazin-2(3H)-yl)-benzeneacetonitriles and U.S. Pat. No. 4,767,760 discloses 2-(substituted phenyl)-1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-diones, all having anti-protozoal activity, in particular, anti-coccidial activity. EP 831,088 discloses 1,2,4-triazine-3,5-diones as anticoccidial agents.

The present invention provides compounds which have never been described hitherto and which possess a remarkable pharmacological activity as inhibitors of the production of IL-5.

The present invention is concerned with the compounds of formula

the N-oxides, the pharmaceutically acceptable addition salts, quaternary amines and the stereochemically isomeric forms thereof, wherein

p represents an integer being 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4;

q represents an integer being 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5;

X represents O, S, NR³ or a direct bond; or

—X—R² taken together may represent cyano;

R¹ represents hydrogen, hydroxy, halo, amino, mono- or di(C₁₋₄alkyl)amino, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxy, C₃₋₇cycloalkyl, aryl, arylC₁₋₆alkyl, aminoC₁₋₄alkyl, mono- or di(C₁₋₄alkyl)aminoC₁₋₄alkyl or mono- or di(C₁₋₄alkyl)amino-C₁₋₄alkylamino;

R² represents aryl, Het¹, C₃₋₇cycloalkyl optionally substituted with —C(═O)—Z—R¹⁴, C₁₋₆alkyl or C₁₋₆alkyl substituted with one or two substituents selected from hydroxy, cyano, amino, mono- or di(C₁₋₄alkyl)amino, —C(═O)—Z—R¹⁴, C₁₋₆alkyloxy optionally substituted with —C(═O)—Z—R¹⁴, C₁₋₆alkylsulfonyloxy, C₃₋₇cycloalkyl optionally substituted with —C═O)—Z—R¹⁴, aryl, aryloxy, arylthio, Het¹, Het¹oxy and Het¹thio; and if X is O, S or NR³, then R² may also represent —C(═O)—Z—R¹⁴, aminothiocarbonyl, C₁₋₄alkylcarbonyl optionally substituted with —C(═Q)—Z—R¹⁴, C₁₋₄alkylthiocarbonyl optionally substituted with —C(═O)—Z—R¹⁴, arylcarbonyl, arylthiocarbonyl, Het¹carbonyl or Het¹thiocarbonyl;

R³ represents hydrogen or C₁₋₄alkyl;

each R⁴ independently represents —C(═O)—Z—R¹⁴, C₁₋₆alkyl, halo, polyhaloC₁₋₆alkyl, hydroxy, mercapto, C₁₋₆alkyloxy, C₁₋₆alkylthio, C₁₋₆alkylcarbonyloxy, aryl, cyano, nitro, Het³, R⁶, NR⁷R⁸ or C₁₋₄alkyl substituted with —C(═O)—Z—R¹⁴, Het³, R⁶ or NR⁷R⁸;

each R⁵ independently represents —C(═O)—Z—R¹⁴, C₁₋₆alkyl, halo, polyhaloC₁₋₆alkyl, hydroxy, mercapto, C₁₋₆alkyloxy, C₁₋₆alkylthio, C₁₋₆alkylcarbonyloxy, aryl, cyano, nitro, Het³, R⁶, NR⁷R⁸ or C₁₋₄alkyl substituted with —C(═O)—Z—R¹⁴, Het³, R⁶ or NR⁷R⁸;

each R⁶ independently represents C₁₋₆alkylsulfonyl, aminosulfonyl, mono- or di-(C₁₋₄alkyl)aminosulfonyl, mono- or di(benzyl)aminosulfonyl, polyhaloC₁₋₆alkyl-sulfonyl, C₁₋₆alkylsulfonyl, phenylC₁₋₄alkylsulfonyl, piperazinylsulfonyl, piperidinyl-sulfonyl, aminopiperidinylsulfonyl, piperidinylaminosulfonyl, N-C₁₋₄alkyl-N-piperidinylaminosulfonyl or mono- or di(C₁₋₄alkyl)aminoC₁₋₄alkylsulfonyl;

each R⁷ and each R⁸ are independently selected from hydrogen, C₁₄alkyl, hydroxy-C₁₋₄alkyl, dihydroxyC₁₋₄alkyl, aryl, arylC₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxyC₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyl-carbonyl, arylcarbonyl, Het³carbonyl, —C(═O)—Z—R¹⁴, mono- or di(C₁₋₄alkyl)amino-C)₄alkyl, arylaminocarbonyl, arylaminothiocarbonyl, Het³aminocarbonyl, Het³amino-thiocarbonyl, C₃₋₇cycloalkyl, pyridinylC₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkanediyl-C(═O)—Z—R¹⁴, —Y—C₁₋₄alkanediyl-C(═O)—Z—R¹⁴, Het³ and R⁶; or R⁷ and R⁸ taken together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached form a radical of formula

R⁹ and R¹⁰ are each independently selected from hydrogen, C₁₋₄alkyl, hydroxyC₁₋₄alkyl, dihydroxyC₁₋₄alkyl, phenyl, phenylC₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxyC₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyl-carbonyl, phenylcarbonyl, Het³carbonyl, —C(═O)—Z—R¹⁴, mono- or di(C₁₋₄alkyl)amino-C₁₋₄alkyl, phenylaminocarbonyl, phenylaminothiocarbonyl, Het³ aminocarbonyl, Het³ aminothiocarbonyl, C₃₋₇cycloalkyl, pyridinylC₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkanediyl-C(═O)—Z—R¹⁴, —Y—C₁₋₄alkanediyl-C(═O)—Z—R¹⁴, Het³ and R⁶; or R⁹ and R¹⁰ taken together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached form a radical of formula

each R¹¹ independently being selected from hydroxy, mercapto, cyano, nitro, halo, —C(═O)—Z—R¹⁴, —Y—C₁₋₄alkanediyl-C(═O)—Z—R¹⁴, trihalomethyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxy optionally substituted with —C(═O)—Z—R¹⁴, formyl, trihaloC₁₋₄alkylsulfonyloxy, R⁶, NR⁷R⁸, C(═O)NR¹⁵ R¹⁶, aryl, aryloxy, arylcarbonyl, C₃₋₇cycloalkyl optionally substituted with —C(═O)—Z—R¹⁴, C₃₋₇cycloalkyloxy optionally substituted with —C(═O)—Z—R¹⁴, phthalimide-2-yl, Het³, Het⁴ and C(═O)Het³;

R¹² and R¹³ are each independently selected from hydrogen, C₁₋₄alkyl, hydroxyC₁₋₄alkyl, dihydroxyC₁₋₄alkyl, phenyl, phenylC₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxyC₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyl-carbonyl, phenylcarbonyl, —C(═O)—Z—R¹⁴, mono- or di(C₁₋₄alkyl)aminoC₁₋₄alkyl, phenylaminocarbonyl, phenylaminothiocarbonyl, C₃₋₇cycloalkyl, pyridinylC₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkanediyl-C(═O)—Z—R¹⁴, —Y—C₁₋₄alkanediyl-C(═O)—Z—R¹⁴ and R⁶; or R⁹ and R¹⁰ taken together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached form a radical of formula

 each Z independently represents O, S, NH, —CH₂—O— —CH₂—S— whereby —CH₂— is attached to the carbonyl group;

each R¹⁴ independently represents hydrogen, C₁₋₂₀acyl (having a straight or branched, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon chain having 1 to 20 carbon atoms), C₁₋₂₀alkyl, C₃₋₂₀alkenyl optionally substituted with phenyl, C₃₋₂₀alkynyl, C₃₋₇cycloalkyl, polyhaloC₁₋₂₀alkyl, Het⁵, phenyl or C₁₋₂₀alkyl substituted with one or more substituents selected from hydroxy, NR¹⁷, R¹⁸, phenyl, mono- or di(C₁₋₄alkyl)amino, cyano, Het⁵, C₁₋₄alkyloxycarbonyl, phenylC₁₋₄alkyloxycarbonyl and C₃₋₇cycloalkyl; or R¹⁴ represents a radical of formula

wherein n is 0 to 5; m is 1 to 4; s is zero to 4; r is 0 to 2;

R^(a), R^(b), R^(c), R^(d), R^(e) and R^(f) are each independently hydrogen, or C₁₋₆alkyl; phenyl or C₃₋₇cycloalkyl; or

R^(e) and R^(f) taken together may form —CH₂—CH₂—, —CH₂—CH₂—CH₂— or —CH₂—CH₂——CH₂—CH₂—;

R^(g), R^(h) and R^(k) are each independently hydrogen or C₁₋₄alkyl;

each R^(j) independently is C₁₋₄alkyl;

R^(i) is —O—R⁶, C₁₋₆alkyl, phenyl or C₃₋₇cycloalkyl optionally substituted with C₁₋₄alkyloxy;

R^(n) is hydrogen, C₁₋₄alkyl, phenyl, phenylC₁₋₄alkyl or C₃₋₇cycloalkyl;

R^(m) is hydrogen or C₁₋₄alkyloxy; or

—Z—R¹⁴ taken together form a radical of formula

R¹⁵ and R¹⁶ are each independently selected from hydrogen, C₁₋₄alkyl, hydroxyC₁₋₄alkyl, dihydroxyC₁₋₄alkyl, aryl, arylC₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxyC₁₋₄alkyl, —C(═O)Z—R¹⁴, arylcarbonyl, mono- or di(C₁₋₄alkyl)aminoC₁₋₄alkyl, arylaminocarbonyl, arylamino-10 thiocarbonyl, aminocarbonylmethylene, mono- or di(C₁₋₄alkyl)aminocarbonyl-methylene, Het³aminocarbonyl, Het³aminothiocarbonyl, pyridinylC₁₋₄alkyl, Het³ or R⁶; or R¹⁵ and R¹⁶ taken together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached form a radical of formula

R¹⁷ and R¹⁸ are each independently selected from hydrogen, C₁₋₄alkyl, hydroxyC₁₋₄alkyl, dihydroxyC₁₋₄akyl, phenyl, phenylC₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxyC₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyl-carbonyl, phenylcarbonyl, mono- or di(C₁₋₄alkyl)aminoC₁₋₄alkyl, phenylamino-carbonyl, phenylaminothiocarbonyl, C₃₋₇cycloalkyl, pyridinylC₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkanediyl-C(═O)—Z—C₁₋₆alkyl, —C(═O)—Z—C₁₋₆alkyl, —Y—C₁₋₄alkanediyl-C(═O)—Z—C₁₋₆alkyl and R⁶;

aryl represents phenyl optionally substituted with one, two or three substituents each independently selected from nitro, azido, cyano, halo, hydroxy, C₁₋₄alkyl, C₃₋₇cycloalkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxy, formyl, polyhaloC₁₋₄alkyl, NR⁹R¹⁰, —C(═O)NR⁹R¹⁰, —C(═O)—Z—R¹⁴, R⁶, —O—R⁶; phenyl, Het³, C(═O)Het³, and C₁₋₄alkyl substituted with one or more substituents each independently selected from halo, hydroxy,

C₁₋₄alkyloxy, —C(═O)—Z—R¹⁴, —Y—C₁₋₄alkanediyl-C(═O)—Z—R¹⁴, Het³ or NR⁹R¹⁰;

Het¹ represents a heterocycle selected from pyrrolyl, pyrrolinyl, imidazolyl, imidazo-linyl, pyrazolyl, pyrazolinyl, triazolyl, tetrazolyl, furanyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, thienyl, thiolanyl, dioxolanyl, oxazolyl, oxazolinyl, isoxazolyl, thiazolyl, thiazolinyl, isothiazolyl, thiadiazolyl, oxadiazolyl, pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, pyranyl, pyridazinyl, pyrrolidinyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, morpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl, dioxanyl, dithianyl, trithianyl, triazinyl, benzothienyl, isobenzothienyl, benzofuranyl, isobenzofuranyl, benzothiazolyl, benzoxazolyl, benzodioxanyl, indolyl, isoindolyl, indolinyl, purinyl, 1H-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidinyl, benzimidazolyl, quinolyl, isoquinolyl, cinnolinyl, phtalazinyl, quinazolinyl, quinoxalinyl, thiazolopyridinyl, oxazolopyridinyl, imidazo[2,1-b]thiazolyl; wherein said heterocycles each independently may optionally be substituted with one, or where possible, two or three substituents each independently selected from Het², R¹¹ and C₁₋₄alkyl optionally substituted with one or two substituents independently selected from Het² and R¹¹;

Het² represents a heterocycle selected from pyrrolyl, pyrrolinyl, imidazolyl, imidazo-linyl, pyrazolyl, pyrazolinyl, triazolyl, tetrazolyl, furanyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, thienyl, thiolanyl, dioxolanyl, oxazolyl, oxazolinyl, isoxazolyl, thiazolyl, thiazolinyl, isothiazolyl, thiadiazolyl, oxadiazolyl, pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, pyranyl, pyridazinyl, dioxanyl, dithianyl, trithianyl, triazinyl, benzothienyl, isobenzothienyl, benzofuranyl, isobenzofuranyl, benzothiazolyl, benzoxazolyl, indolyl, isoindolyl, indolinyl, purinyl, 1H-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidinyl, benzimidazolyl, quinolyl, isoquinolyl, cinnolinyl, phtalazinyl, quinazolinyl, quinoxalinyl, thiazolopyridinyl, oxazolopyridinyl and imidazo[2,1-b]thiazolyl; wherein said heterocycles each independently may optionally be substituted with one, or where possible, two or three substituents each independently selected from R¹¹ and C₁₋₄alkyl optionally substituted with one or two substituents each independently selected from R¹¹;

Het³ represents a monocyclic heterocycle selected from azetidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, morpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl and tetrahydropyranyl; wherein said monocyclic heterocycles each independently may optionally be substituted with, where possible, one, two, three or four substituents each independently selected from hydroxy, C₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxy, —C(═O)—Z—R¹⁴, C₁₋₄alkylcarbonyl, phenylC₁₋₄alkyl, piperidinyl, NR¹²R¹³, R⁶ and C₁₋₄alkyl substituted with one or two substituents each independently selected from hydroxy, C₁₋₄alkyloxy, phenyl, —Y—C₁₋₄alkanediyl-C(═O)—Z—R¹⁴, —C(═O)—Z—R⁴, R⁶or NR¹²R¹³;

Het⁴ represents a monocyclic heterocycle selected from pyrrolyl, imidazolyl, pyrazolyl, triazolyl, tetrazolyl, furanyl, thienyl, oxazolyl, isoxazolyl, thiazolyl, isothiazolyl, thiadiazolyl, oxadiazolyl, pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, pyranyl, pyridazinyl and triazinyl;

Het⁵ represents a heterocycle selected from pyrrolyl, pyrrolinyl, imidazolyl, imidazo-linyl, pyrazolyl, pyrazolinyl, triazolyl, tetrazolyl, furanyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, thienyl, thiolanyl, dioxolanyl, oxazolyl, oxazolinyl, isoxazolyl, thiazolyl, thiazolinyl, isothiazolyl, thiadiazolyl, oxadiazolyl, pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, pyranyl, pyridazinyl, pyrrolidinyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, morpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl, tetrahydropyranyl, dioxanyl, dithianyl, trithianyl, triazinyl, benzothienyl, isobenzo-thienyl, benzofuranyl, isobenzofuranyl, benzothiazolyl, benzoxazolyl, benzodioxanyl, indolyl, isoindolyl, indolinyl, purinyl, 1H-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidinyl, benzimida-zolyl, quinolyl, isoquinolyl, cinnolinyl, phtalazinyl, quinazolinyl, quinoxalinyl, thiazolopyridinyl, oxazolopyridinyl and imidazo[2,1-b]thiazolyl; wherein said heterocycles each independently may optionally be substituted with one, or where possible, two, three or four substituents each independently selected from hydroxy, C₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxy, C₁₋₄alkylcarbonyl, piperidinyl, NR¹⁷R¹⁸, C(═O)—Z—C₁₋₆alkyl, R⁶, sulfonamido and C₁₋₄alkyl substituted with one or two substituents independently selected from hydroxy, C₁₋₄alkyloxy, phenyl, C(═O)—Z—C₁₋₆alkyl, —Y—C₁₋₆alkanediyl—C(═O)—Z—C₁₋₆alkyl, R⁶ and NR¹⁷R¹⁸;

provided however that

R² is other than aminocarbonyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxycarbonylC₁₋₆alkyl; and

R¹¹ is other than carboxyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxycarbonyl, aminocarbonyl, C₁₋₄alkylaminocarbonyl, hydroxyC₁₋₄alkylaminocarbonyl, C₁₋₄alkylcarbonylaminocarbonyl, C₃₋₇cycloalkylaminocarbonyl; and

R⁷, R⁸, R⁹, R¹⁰, R¹², R¹³, R¹⁵ and R¹⁶ are other than C₁₋₄alkylcarbonyloxyC₁₋₄alkylcarbonyl, hydroxyC₁₋₄alkylcarbonyl; and

Het³ is other than a monocyclic heterocycle substituted with carboxyl or C₁₋₄alkyloxycarbonyl; and

the compounds of formula (I) contain at least one —C(═O)—Z—R¹⁴ moiety.

A special group of compounds are those compounds of formula (I) wherein

R represents aryl, Het¹, C₃₋₇cycloalkyl optionally substituted with —C(═O)—Z—R¹⁴, C₁₋₆alkyl or C₁₋₆alkyl substituted with one or two substituents selected from hydroxy, cyano, amino, mono- or di(C₁₋₄alkyl)amino, —C(═O)—Z—R¹⁴, C₁₋₆alkyloxy optionally substituted with —C(═O)—Z—R¹⁴, C₁₋₆alkylsulfonyloxy, C₃₋₇cycloalkyl optionally substituted with —C(═O)—Z—R¹⁴, aryl, aryloxy, arylthio, Het¹, Het¹oxy and Het¹thio; and if X is O, S or NR³, then R² may also represent —C(═O)—Z—R¹⁴, aminothiocarbonyl, C₁₋₄alkylcarbonyl optionally substituted with —C(═O)—Z—R¹⁴, C₁₋₄alkylthiocarbonyl optionally: substituted with —C(═O)—Z—R¹⁴, arylcarbonyl, arylthiocarbonyl;

each R⁶ independently represents C₁₋₆alkylsulfonyl, aminosulfonyl, mono- or di(C₁₋₄alkyl)aminosulfonyl, mono or di(benzyl)aminosulfonyl, polyhaloC₁₋₆alkylsulfonyl, C₁₋₆alkylsulfonyl, phenylC₁₋₄alkylsulfonyl, piperazinylsulfonyl, aminopiperidinylsulfonyl, piperidinylaminosulfonyl, N-C₁₋₄alkyl-N-piperidinylaminosulfonyl;

each R⁷ and each R⁸ are independently selected from hydrogen, C₁₋₄alkyl, hydroxy-C₁₋₄alkyl, dihydroxyC₁₋₄alkyl, aryl, arylC₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxyC₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyl-carbonyl, arylcarbonyl, —C(═O)—Z—R¹⁴, mono- or di(C₁₋₄alkyl)aminoC₁₋₄alkyl, arylaminocarbonyl, arylaminothiocarbonyl, Het³aminocarbonyl, Het³aminothiocarbonyl, C₃₋₇cycloalkyl, pyridinylC₁₋₄alkyl, Het³ and R⁶;

R⁹ and R¹⁰ are each independently selected from hydrogen, C₁₋₄alkyl, hydroxyC₁₋₄alkyl, dihydroxyC₁₋₄alkyl, phenyl, phenylC₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxyC₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyl-carbonyl, phenylcarbonyl, —C(═O)—Z—R¹⁴, mono- or di(C₁₋₄alkyl)aminoC₁₋₄alkyl, phenylaminocarbonyl, phenylaminothiocarbonyl, Het³aminocarbonyl, Het³aminothiocarbonyl, C₃₋₇cycloalkyl, pyridinylC₁₋₄alkyl, Het³ and R⁶;

each R¹¹ independently being selected from hydroxy, mercapto, cyano, nitro, halo, —C(═O)—Z—R¹⁴, trihalomethyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxy optionally substituted with —C(═O)—Z—R¹⁴, formyl, trihaloC₁₋₄alkylsulfonyloxy, R⁶, NR⁷R⁸, C(═O)NR¹⁵R¹⁶, aryl, aryloxy, arylcarbonyl, C₃₋₇cycloalkyl optionally substituted with —C(═O)—Z—R¹⁴, C₃₋₇cycloalkyloxy optionally substituted with —C(═O)—Z—R¹⁴, phthalimide-2-yl, Het³ and C(═O)Het³;

R¹² and R¹³ are each independently selected from hydrogen, C₁₋₄alkyl, hydroxyC₁₋₄alkyl, dihydroxyC₁₋₄alkyl, phenyl, phenylC₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxyC₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyl-carbonyl, phenylcarbonyl, —C(═O)—Z—R¹⁴, mono- or di(C₁₋₄alkyl)aminoC₁₋₄alkyl, phenylaminocarbonyl, phenylaminothiocarbonyl, C₃₋₇cycloalkyl, pyridinylC₁₋₄alkyl and R⁶;

each R¹⁴ independently represents hydrogen, C₁₋₂₀acyl (having a straight or branched, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon chain having 1 to 20 carbon atoms), C₁₋₂₀alkyl, C₃₋₇cycloalkyl, polyhaloC₁₋₂₀alkyl; or R¹⁴ represents a radical of formula

R^(a), R^(b), R^(c), R^(d), R^(e) and R^(f) are each independently hydrogen, C₁₋₆alkyl or C₃₋₇cycloalkyl; or

R^(e) and R^(f) taken together may form —CH₂—CH₂—, —CH₂—CH₂—CH₂— or —CH₂—CH₂—CH₂—CH₂—;

R¹⁵ and R¹⁶ are each independently selected from dihydroxyC₁₋₄alkyl, aryl, arylC₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxyC₁₋₄alkyl, —C(═O)—Z—R¹⁴, arylcarbonyl, mono- or di(C₁₋₄alkyl)-aminoC₁₋₄alkyl, arylaminocarbonyl, arylaminothiocarbonyl, Het³aminocarbonyl, Het³aminothiocarbonyl, pyridinylC₁₋₄alkyl, Het³ or R⁶;

aryl represents phenyl optionally substituted with one, two or three substituents each independently selected from nitro, azido, halo, hydroxy, C₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxy, polyhaloC₁₋₄alkyl, NR⁹R¹⁰, —C(═O)—Z—R¹⁴, R⁶, phenyl, Het³, and C₁₋₄alkyl substituted with —C(═O)—Z—R¹⁴ or NR⁹R¹⁰;

Het¹ represents a heterocycle selected from pyrrolyl, pyrrolinyl, imidazolyl, imidazo-linyl, pyrazolyl, pyrazolinyl, triazolyl, tetrazolyl, furanyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, thienyl, thiolanyl, dioxolanyl, oxazolyl, oxazolinyl, isoxazolyl, thiazolyl, thiazolinyl, isothiazolyl, thiadiazolyl, oxadiazolyl, pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, pyranyl, pyrdazinyl, pyrrolidinyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, morpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl, dioxanyl, dithianyl, trithianyl, triazinyl, benzothienyl, isobenzothienyl, benzofuranyl, isobenzofuranyl, benzothiazolyl, benzoxazolyl, indolyl, isoindolyl, indolinyl, purinyl, 1H-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidinyl, benzimidazolyl, quinolyl, isoquinolyl, cinnolinyl, phtalazinyl, quinazolinyl, quinoxalinyl, thiazolopyridinyl, oxazolopyridinyl, imidazo[2,1-b]thiazolyl; wherein said heterocycles each independently may optionally be substituted with one, or where possible, two or three substituents each independently selected from Het², R¹¹ and C₁₋₄alkyl optionally substituted with Het² and R¹¹;

Het² represents a heterocycle selected from pyrrolyl, pyrrolinyl, imidazolyl, imidazo-linyl, pyrazolyl, pyrazolinyl, triazolyl, tetrazolyl, furanyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, thienyl, thiolanyl, dioxolanyl, oxazolyl, oxazolinyl, isoxazolyl, thiazolyl, thiazolinyl, isothiazolyl, thiadiazolyl, oxadiazolyl, pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, pyranyl, pyridazinyl, dioxanyl,dithianyl, trithianyl, triazinyl; wherein said heterocycles each independently may optionally be substituted with one, or where possible, two or three substituents each independently selected from R¹¹ and C₁₋₄alkyl optionally substituted with R¹¹;

Het³ represents a monocyclic heterocycle selected from pyrrolidinyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, morpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl; wherein said monocyclic heterocycles each independently may optionally be substituted with, where possible, one, two, substituents each independently selected from C₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxy, —C(═O)—Z—R¹⁴, C₁₋₄alkylcarbonyl, phenylC₁₋₄alkyl, piperidinyl, NR¹²R¹³, R⁶ and C₁₋₄alkyl substituted with —C(═O)—Z—R¹⁴, R⁶ or NR¹²R¹³.

As used in the foregoing definitions and hereinafter, halo is generic to fluoro, chloro, bromo and iodo; C₃₋₇cycloalkyl is generic to cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl and cycloheptyl; C₁₋₄alkyl defines straight and branched chain saturated hydrocarbon radicals having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms such as, for example, methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, 1-methylethyl, 2-methylpropyl, 2,2-dimethylethyl and the like; C₁₋₆alkyl is meant to include C₁₋₄alkyl and the higher homologues thereof having 5 or 6 carbon atoms such as, for example, pentyl, 2-methylbutyl, hexyl, 2-methylpentyl and the like C₁₋₂₀alkyl is meant to include C₁₋₆alkyl and the higher homologues thereof having 7 to 20 carbon atoms such as, for example, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, pentadecyl, octadecyl, nonadecyl, eicosyl and the like C₅₋₂₀alkyl is meant to include C₁₋₂₀alkyl except for C₁₋₄alkyl; polyhaloC₁₋₄alkyl is defined as polyhalosubstituted C₁₋₄alkyl, in particular C₁₋₄alkyl substituted with 1 to 6 halogen atoms, more in particular difluoro- or trifluoromethyl; polyhaloC₁₋₆alkyl is defined as polyhalosubstituted C₁₋₆alkyl; polyhaloC₁₋₂₀alkyl is defined as polyhalosubstituted C₁₋₂₀alkyl. The term C₁₋₄alkanediyl defines bivalent straight or branch chained alkanediyl radicals having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms such as, for example, methylene, 1,2-ethanediyl, 1,3-propanediyl, 1,4-butanediyl and the like; C₂₋₆alkanediyl defines bivalent straight or branch chained alkanediyl radicals having from 2 to 6 carbon atoms such as, for example, 1,2-ethanediyl, 1,3-propanediyl, 1,4-butanediyl, 1,5-pentanediyl, 1,6-hexanediyl and the like. The term C₃₋₂₀alkenyl defines straight and branched chain hydrocarbon radicals containing one double bond and having from 3 to 20 carbon atoms such as, for example, 2-propenyl, 3-butenyl, 2-butenyl, 2-pentenyl, 3-pentenyl, 3-methyl-2-butenyl, 3-hexenyl and the like; and the carbon of said C₃₋₂₀alkenyl connected to the remainder of the molecule preferably is saturated; and the term C₃₋₂₀alkynyl defines straight and branched chain hydrocarbon radicals containing one triple bond and having from 3 to 20 carbon atoms such as, for example, 2-propynyl, 3-butynyl, 2-butynyl, 2-pentynyl, 3-pentynyl, 3-methyl-2-butynyl, 3-hexynyl and the like; and the carbon of said C₃₋₂₀alkynyl connected to the remainder of the molecule preferably is saturated.

Het¹, Het², Het³, Het⁴ and Het⁵ are meant to include all the possible isomeric forms of the heterocycles mentioned in the definition of Het¹, Het², Het³, Het⁴ or Het⁵, for instance, pyrrolyl also includes 2H-pyrrolyl; triazolyl includes 1,2,4-triazolyl and 1,3,4-triazolyl; oxadiazolyl includes 1,2,3-oxadiazolyl, 1,2,4-oxadiazolyl, 1,2,5-oxadiazolyl and 1,3,4-oxadiazolyl; thiadiazolyl includes 1,2,3-thiadiazolyl, 1,2,4-thiadiazolyl, 1,2,5-thiadiazolyl and 1,3,4-thiadiazolyl; pyranyl includes 2H-pyranyl and 4H-pyranyl.

The heterocycles represented by Het¹, Het², Het³, Het⁴ and Het⁵ may be attached to the remainder of the molecule of formula (I) through any ring carbon or heteroatom as appropriate. Thus, for example, when the heterocycle is imidazolyl, it may be a 1-imidazolyl, 2-imidazolyl, 4-imidazolyl and 5-imidazolyl; when it is thiazolyl, it may be 2-thiazolyl, 4-thiazolyl and 5-thiazolyl; when it is triazolyl, it may be 1,2,4-triazol-1-yl, 1,2,4-triazol-3-yl, 1,2,4-triazol-5-yl, 1,3,4-triazol-1-yl and 1,3,4-triazol-2-yl; when it is benzthiazolyl, it may be 2-benzthiazolyl, 4-benzthiazolyl, 5-benzthiazolyl, 6-benzthiazolyl and 7-benzthiazolyl.

The C₁₋₂₀acyl is derived from

acetic acid CH₃COOH tridecanoic acid C₁₂H₂₅COOH propionic acid C₂H₅COOH myristic acid C₁₃H₂₇COOH butyric acid C₃H₇COOH pentadecanoic acid C₁₄H₂₉COOH valeric acid C₄H₉COOH palmitic acid C₁₅H₃₁COOH hexanoic acid C₅H₁₁COOH heptadecanoic acid C₁₆H₃₃COOH heptanoic acid C₆H₁₃COOH stearic acid C₁₇H₃₅COOH octanoic acid C₇H₁₅COOH oleic acid C₁₇H₃₃COOH nonanoic acid C₈H₁₇COOH linolic acid C₁₇H₃₁COOH decanoic acid C₉H₁₉COOH linolenic acid C₁₇H₂₉COOH undecanoic acid C₁₀H₂₁COOH nonadecanoic acid C₁₈H₃₇COOH lauric acid C₁₁H₂₃COOH icosanoic acid C₁₉H₃₉COOH

The pharmaceutically acceptable addition salts as mentioned hereinabove are meant to comprise the therapeutically active non-toxic acid addition salt forms which the compounds of formula (I) are able to form. The latter can conveniently be obtained by treating the base form with such appropriate acids as inorganic acids, for example, hydrohalic acids, e.g. hydrochloric, hydrobromic and the like; sulfuric acid; nitric acid; phosphoric acid and the like; or organic acids, for example, acetic, propanoic, hydroxy-acetic, 2-hydroxypropanoic, 2-oxopropanoic, ethanedioic, propanedioic, butanedioic, (Z)-2-butenedioic, (E)-2-butenedioic, 2-hydroxybutanedioic, 2,3-dihydroxybutanedioic, 2-hydroxy-1,2,3-propanetricarboxylic, methanesulfonic, ethanesulfonic, benzenesulphonic, 4-methylbenzenesulfonic, cyclohexanesulfamic, 2-hydroxybenzoic, 4-amino-2-hydroxybenzoic and the like acids. Conversely the salt form can be converted by treatment with alkali into the free base form.

The compounds of formula (I) containing acidic protons may be converted into their therapeutically active non-toxic metal or amine addition salt forms by treatment with appropriate organic and inorganic bases. Appropriate base salt forms comprise, for example, the ammonium salts, the alkali and earth alkaline metal salts, e.g. the lithium, sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium salts and the like, salts with organic bases, e.g. the benzathine, N-methyl-D-glucamine, 2-amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-propanediol, hydrabamine salts, and salts with amino acids such as, for example, arginine, lysine, choline and the like. Conversely the salt form can be converted by treatment with acid into the free acid form.

The term addition salt also comprises the hydrates and solvent addition forms which the compounds of formula (I) are able to form. Examples of such forms are e.g. hydrates, alcoholates and the like.

The N-oxide forms of the present compounds are meant to comprise the compounds of formula (I) wherein one or several nitrogen atoms are oxidized to the so-called N-oxide. For example, one or more nitrogen atoms of any of the heterocycles in the definition of Het¹, Het², Het³, Het⁴ and Het⁵ may be N-oxidised.

Some of the compounds of formula (I) may also exist in their tautomeric forms. Such forms although not explicitly indicated in the above formula are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention. For example, a hydroxy substituted triazine moiety may also exist as the corresponding triazinone moiety; a hydroxy substituted pyrimidine moiety may also exist as the corresponding pyrimidinone moiety.

The term “stereochemically isomeric forms” as used hereinbefore defines all the possible stereoisomeric forms in which the compounds of formula (I) can exist. Unless otherwise mentioned or indicated, the chemical designation of compounds denotes the mixture of all possible stereochemically isomeric forms, said mixtures containing all diastereomers and enantiomers of the basic molecular structure. More in particular, stereogenic centres may have the R- or S-configuration, used herein in accordance with Chemical Abstracts nomenclature. Stereochemically isomeric forms of the compounds of formula (I) are obviously intended to be embraced within the scope of this invention.

The compounds of formula (I) and some of the intermediates in the present invention contain one or more asymmetric carbon atoms. The pure and mixed stereochemically isomeric forms of the comppounds of formula (I) are intended to be embraced within the scope of the present invention.

Whenever used hereinafter, the term “compounds of formula (I)” is meant to also include their N-oxide forms, their pharmaceutically acceptable addition salts, quaternary amines and their stereochemically isomeric forms.

The numbering of the phenyl ring bearing substituent R⁴ is given hereinbelow and is used herein as such when indicating the position of the R⁴ substituents on said phenyl ring, unless otherwise indicated.

The carbon atom bearing the two phenyl rings and the R¹ and —X—R² substituents will be referred herein as the central carbon atom.

An interesting group of compounds are those compounds of formula (I) wherein the 6-azauracil moiety is connected to the phenyl ring in the para or meta position relative to the central carbon atom; preferably in the para position.

Another interesting group contains those compounds of formula (I) wherein one or more of the following restrictions apply:

p is 0, 1 or 2;

X is S, NR³, or a direct bond; more in particular NH or a direct bond;

each R⁵ independently is halo, polyhaloC₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxy or aryl, preferably, chloro or trifluoromethyl, more preferably chloro;

the at least one —C(═O)—Z—R¹⁴ moiety contained by the compound of formula (I) is born by R²;

R² is Het¹ or C₁₋₆alkyl substituted with one or two substituents selected from hydroxy, cyano, amino, mono- or di(C₁₋₄alkyl)amino, C(═O)—Z—R¹⁴ C₁₋₆alkyloxy optionally substituted with C(═O)—Z—R¹⁴, C₁₋₆alkylsulfonyloxy, C₃₋₇cycloalkyl optionally substituted with C(═O)—Z—R¹⁴, aryl, aryloxy, arylthio, Het¹, Het¹oxy and Het¹thio; and if X is O, S or NR , then R² may also represent aminothiocarbonyl, C₁₋₄alkylcarbonyl optionally substituted with C(═O)—Z—R¹⁴, C₁₋₄alkylthiocarbonyl optionally substituted with C(═O)—Z—R¹⁴, arylcarbonyl, arylthiocarbonyl, Het¹carbonyl or Het¹thiocarbonyl; particularly R² is Het¹ or in the event X is NH, R² may also be aminothiocarbonyl or Het¹carbonyl;

R¹ is hydrogen or methyl; preferably, methyl;

R⁶ is C₁₋₆alkylsulfonyl or aminosulfonyl;

R⁷ and R⁸ are each independently hydrogen, C₁₋₄alkyl, Het³ or R⁶;

R⁹ and R¹⁰ are each independently hydrogen, C₁₋₄alkyloxyC₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkylcarbonyl, aminocarbonyl, Het³carbonyl, Het³ or R⁶;

R¹¹ is cyano, nitro halo, C₁₋₄alkyloxy, formyl, NR⁷R⁸, C(═O)NR¹⁵R¹⁶, —C(═O)—Z—R¹⁴, aryl, arylcarbonyl, Het³, Het⁴ or C(═O)Het³; more preferably R¹¹ is phenyl, —C(═O)—O—R¹⁴, —C(═O)—S—R¹⁴, or, —C(═O)—NH—R¹⁴;

R¹⁴ is dihydrofuranyl, C₅₋₂₀alkyl, C₃₋₂₀alkenyl, polyhaloC₁₋₆alkyl, Het⁵ or C₁₋₂₀alkyl substituted with one or more substituents selected from phenyl, C₁₋₄alkylamino, cyano, Het¹, hydroxy and C₃₋₇cycloalkyl;

R¹⁷ and R¹⁸ are each independently hydrogen or phenyl;

aryl is phenyl optionally substituted with one, two or three substituents each independently selected from nitro, cyano, halo, hydroxy, C₁₋₄alkyl, C₃₋₇cycloalkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxy, formyl, polyhaloC₁₋₄alkyl, NR⁹R¹⁰, C(═O)NR⁹R¹⁰, C(═O)—O—R¹⁴, —O—R⁶, phenyl, C(═O)Het³ and C₁₋₄alkyl substituted with one or more substituents each independently selected from halo, hydroxy, C₁₋₄alkyloxy, C(═O)—Z—R¹⁴, Het³ or NR⁹R¹⁰;

Het¹ is a monocyclic heterocycle selected from pyrrolyl, imidazolyl, pyrazolyl, triazolyl, tetrazolyl, furanyl, thienyl, oxazolyl, isoxazolyl, thiazolyl, isothiazolyl, thiadiazolyl, oxadiazolyl, pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, pyranyl, pyridazinyl and triazinyl, in particular imidazolyl, oxadiazolyl, thiazolyl, pyrimidinyl or pyridinyl, wherein said monocyclic heterocycles each independently may optionally be substituted with one, or where possible, two or three substituents each independently selected from Het², R¹¹ and C₁₋₄akyl optionally substituted with Het² or R¹¹; preferably Het¹ is imidazolyl, oxadiazolyl, thiazolyl or pyridinyl each independently and optionally substituted with one, or where possible, two or three substituents each independently selected from Het², R¹¹ and C₁₋₄alkyl optionally substituted with Het² or R¹¹;

Het² is an aromatic heterocycle; more in particular furanyl, thienyl, pyridinyl or benzothienyl, wherein said aromatic heterocycles each independently may optionally be substituted with one, or where possible, two or three substituents each independently selected from R¹¹ and C₁₋₄alkyl; :

Het³ is azetidinyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, morpholinyl and tetrahydropyranyl each independently and optionally substituted with, where possible, one, two, three or four substituents each independently selected from hydroxy, C₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkylcarbonyl, piperidinyl and C₁₋₄alkyl substituted with one or two substituents independently selected from hydroxy, C₁₋₄alkyloxy and phenyl;

Het⁴ is thienyl;

Het⁵ is piperidinyl or piperazinyl optionally substituted with C₁₋₄alkyl or sulfonamido.

Suitably, Het¹ represents a heterocycle selected from imidazolyl, triazolyl, furanyl, oxazolyl, thiazolyl, thiazolinyl, thiadiazolyl, oxadiazolyl, pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, triazinyl, benzothiazolyl, benzoxazolyl, purinyl, 1H-pyrazolo-[3,4-d]pyrimidinyl, benzimidazolyl, thiazolopyridinyl, oxazolopyridinyl, imidazo-[2,1-b]thiazolyl; wherein said heterocycles each independently may optionally be substituted with one, or where possible, two or three substituents each independently selected from Het², R¹¹ and C₁₋₄alkyl optionally substituted with Het² or R¹¹. Suitably, Het² represents furanyl, thienyl or pyridinyl; wherein said monocyclic heterocycles each independently may optionally be substituted with C₁₋₄alkyl. Suitably, Het³ represents pyrrolidinyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, morpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl; wherein said monocyclic heterocycles each independently may optionally be substituted with, where possible, one, two or three substituents each independently selected from C₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxy, —C(═O)—Z—R¹⁴, C₁₋₄alkylcarbonyl, phenylC₁₋₄alkyl, piperidinyl, NR¹²R¹³ and C₁₋₄alkyl substituted with —C(═O)—Z—R¹⁴ or NR¹²R¹³.

Particular compounds are those compounds of formula (I) wherein R⁴ and R⁵ each independently are —C(═O)—Z—R¹⁴, halo, polyhaloC₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyl optionally substituted with —C(═O)—Z₇R¹⁴, C₁₋₆alkyloxy or aryl, more in particular, chloro or trifluoromethyl.

Other particular compounds are those compounds of formula (I) wherein R² represents aryl, Het¹, C₃₋₇cycloalkyl optionally substituted with —C(═O)—Z—R¹⁴ or C₁₋₆alkyl substituted with one or two substituents selected from hydroxy, cyano, amino, mono- or di(C₁₋₄alkyl)amino, C₁₋₆alkyloxy, C₁₋₆alkylsulfonyloxy, C₁₋₆alkyloxycarbonyl, C₃₋₇cycloalkyl, aryl, aryloxy, arylthio, Het¹, Het¹oxy and Het¹thio; and if X is O, S or NR³, then R² may also represent —C(═O)—Z—R¹⁴, aminothiocarbonyl, CC₁₋₄alkylcarbonyl, C₁₋₄alkylthiocarbonyl, arylcarbonyl or arylthiocarbonyl; more in particular R² is oxadiazolyl, thiazolyl, pyrimidinyl or pyridinyl; wherein said heterocycles each independently may optionally be substituted with one, or where possible, two or three substituents each independently selected from Het², R¹¹ and C₁₋₄alkyl optionally substituted with Het² or R¹¹.

Yet other particular compounds are those compounds of formula (I) wherein X is O, S, NH or a direct bond, more preferably S or a direct bond, most preferably a direct bond.

Preferred compounds are those compounds of formula (I) wherein q is 1 or 2 and one R⁴ substituent, preferably chloro, is in the 4 position.

Other preferred compounds are those compounds of formula (I) wherein p is 1 or 2 and the one or two R⁵ substituents, preferably chloro, are in the ortho position relative to the central carbon atom.

In order to simplify the structural representation of the compounds of formula (I), the group

will hereinafter be represented by the symbol D.

Compounds of formula (I) can generally be prepared by reacting an intermediate of formula (I) wherein W¹ is a suitable leaving group such as, for example, a halogen atom, with an appropriate reagent of formula (III).

Said reaction may be performed in a reaction-inert solvent such as, for example, acetonitrile, N,N-dimethylformamide, acetic acid, tetrahydrofuran, ethanol or a mixture thereof. Alternatively, in case the reagent of formula (III) acts as a solvent, no additional reaction-inert solvent is required. The reaction is optionally carried out in the presence of a base such as, for example, 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene, sodium bicarbonate, sodiumethanolate and the like. Convenient reaction temperatures range between −70° C. and reflux temperature.

In this and the following preparations, the reaction products may be isolated from the reaction medium and, if necessary, further purified according to methodologies generally known in the art such as, for example, extraction, crystallisation, distillation, trituration and chromatography.

Alternatively, compounds of formula (I) may generally be prepared by cyclising an intermediate of formula (IV) wherein L is a suitable leaving group such as, for example, C₁₋₆alkyloxy or halo, and E represents an appropriate electron attracting group such as, for example, an ester, an amide, a cyanide, C₁₋₆alkylsulfonyloxy and the like groups; and eliminating the group E of the thus obtained triazinedione of formula (V). Said reaction procedure is analogous to the one described in EP-A-0,170,316.

Some of the compounds and intermediates of the present invention can be prepared according to or analogous to the procedures described in EP-A-0,170,316 and EP-A-0,232,932.

For instance, scheme 1 depicts a reaction pathway for the preparation of compounds of formula (I) wherein R¹ is hydrogen and X is a direct bond, said compounds being represented by formula (I-a-1). A ketone of formula (VI) can be reacted with a reagent of formula (VII) wherein W² is a suitable leaving group such as, for example, a halogen, in a reaction-inert solvent such as, for example, tetrahydrofuran, diethylether, and in the presence of a suitable base such as, for example, butyl lithium, thus forming an intermediate of formula (VIII). The hydroxy group of the intermediates of formula (VIII) may be eliminated by using a suitable reagent such as for example, formamide in acetic acid or triethylsilane in trifluoroacetic acid, thus obtaining an intermediate of formula (IX) of which the nitro group may subsequently be reduced to an amino group which in turn may then be converted to the 6-azauracil group as described in EP-A-0,170,316, thus obtaining compounds of formula (I-a-1).

In addition to the reaction procedure shown in scheme 1, other compounds of formula (I) wherein X is a direct bond may be prepared starting from a ketone of formula (X) (Scheme 2). Reacting said ketone of formula (X) with an intermediate of formula (III) wherein X is a direct bond, said intermediates being represented by formula (III-a), results in a compound of formula (I) wherein R¹ is hydroxy and X is a direct bond, said compounds being represented by formula (I-a-2). Said reaction may be performed in a reaction-inert solvent such as, for example, tetrahydrofuran, diethylether, diisopropyl-acetamide or a mixture thereof, in the presence of a base such as, for example, butyl lithium. Alternatively, intermediate of formula (III-a) may first be transformed into a Grignard reagent, which may then be reacted with the ketone of formula (X). Said compounds of formula (I-a-2) may further be converted to compounds of formula (I) wherein R¹ is a C₁₋₆alkyloxy group represented by formula (I-a-3) using art-known group transformation reactions. The compounds of formula (I-a-2) may also be converted to compounds of formula (I) wherein R¹ is halo, said compounds being represented by formula (I-a-4). A convenient procedure is converting the hydroxy group to a chlorine atom using a suitable reagent such as, for example, thionyl chloride. Said compounds of formula (I-a4) may further be converted to compounds of formula (I) wherein R¹ is amino, said compounds being represented by formula (I-a-5), using ammonia or a functional derivative thereof, in a reaction-inert solvent such as, for example, tetrahydrofuran; or may be converted to compounds of formula (I-a-3) using art-known group transformation reactions.

Reducing the ketone of formula (X) to its corresponding hydroxy derivative of formula (XI) using a suitable reducing agent such as, for example, sodiumborohydride in a reaction-inert solvent such as for example, water, an alcohol, tetrahydrofuran or a mixture thereof; subsequently converting said hydroxy group to a suitable leaving group W⁴ being for example a halogen, thus obtaining an intermediate of formula (XII), and finally reacting said intermediate of formula (XII) with an intermediate of formula (III) in a suitable solvent such as, for example, tetrahydrofuran, N,N-dimethyl-formamide, acetonitrile, acetic acid, ethanol or a mixture thereof, and optionally in the presence of a suitable base such as, for example, 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene or sodiumbicarbonate, will result in a compound of formula (I) wherein R¹ is hydrogen, said compounds being represented by formula (I-b).

Alternatively, intermediates of formula (XI) can be directly transformed to compounds of formula (I-b) wherein X is S, said compounds being represented by formula (I-b-1), using a suitable mercapto containing reagent of formula R²—SH in a suitable reaction solvent such as, for example, trifluoroacetic acid, methanesulfonic acid, trifluoromethanesulfonic acid or the like.

Also starting from a ketone of formula (X), compounds of formula (I) may be prepared wherein R¹ is hydrogen and —X—R² is —NH—C(═O)-(aryl or C₁₋₆alkyl), said compounds being represented by formula (I-c). To that effect, a ketone of formula (X) is reacted with formamide in formic acid or a functional derivative thereof, at elevated temperatures. The resulting intermediate of formula (XII) is hydrolysed to the corresponding amine of formula (XIV), which may then be further reacted with an intermediate of formula (XV) wherein W³ is a suitable leaving group, in the presence of a suitable base, such as, for example pyridine, optionally in the presence of a reaction-inert solvent such as, for example, dichloromethane.

Compounds of formula (I) wherein X is a direct bond and R² is a heterocycle, said compounds being generally represented by formula (I-d), can conveniently be prepared by cyclisation of the appropriate intermediate. Intramolecular cyclisation procedures are feasible and scheme 3 lists several examples.

Starting point is the conversion of the cyano group of a compound of formula (I) wherein —X—R² is cyano, said compounds being represented by formula (I-e), to a carboxyl group thus forming intermediates of formula (XVII) using art-known techniques such as, for example, using a combination of sulphuric and acetic acid in water, which in turn may be further reacted to acyl halides of formula (XVIII), for instance, the acyl chloride derivative may be prepared using thionyl chloride.

The intermediate of formula (XVIII) may be reacted with an intermediate of formula (XIX-a) wherein Y is O, S or NR³, to form an intermediate of formula (XX) in the presence of a base such as, for example, pyridine. Said intermediate of formula (XX) may further be cyclised to a compound of formula (I) wherein —X—R² is an optionally substituted benzothiazole or benzoxazole, said compounds being represented by formula (I-d-1), in the presence of a suitable solvent such as, for example, acetic acid, at an elevated temperature, preferably at reflux temperature. It may be convenient to prepare compounds of formula (I-d-1) without isolating intermediates of formula (XX). Analogously, an intermediate of formula (XVIII) may be reacted with an intermediate of formula (XIX-b) to form an intermediate of formula (XXI) which is cyclised to a compound of formula (I) wherein —X—R² is an optionally 3-substituted 1,2,4-oxadiazole, said compounds being represented by formula (I-d-2), in a reaction-inert solvent such as, for example, toluene, at an elevated temperature, preferably at reflux temperature. Also analogously, an intermediate of formula (XVI) may be reacted with an intermediate of formula (XIX-c) wherein Y is O, S or NR³, to form an intermediate of formula (XXII) which is cyclised to a compound of formula (I) wherein —X—R² is an optionally substituted 1,2,4-triazole, 1,3,4-thiadiazole or 1,3,4-oxadiazole, said compounds being represented by formula (I-d-3), in a suitable solvent such as, for example, phosphorus oxychloride.

Also analogously, an intermediate of formula (XVIII) may be reacted with an intermediate of formula (XIX-d) wherein Y is O, S or NR³, to form an intermediate of formula (XXIII) which is cyclised to a compound of formula (I) wherein —X—R² is an optionally amino substituted 1,2,4-triazole, 1,3,4-thiadiazole or 1,3,4-oxadiazole, said compounds being represented by formula (I-d4) in a reaction-inert solvent such as, for example, toluene, and in the presence of an acid; or, which is cyclised to a compound of formula (I) wherein —X—R² is a disubstituted 1,3,4-triazole, said compounds being represented by formula (I-d-5).

The nitrile derivative of formula (XVI) may also be reacted with hydroxylamine hydrochloride or a functional derivative thereof, thus forming an intermediate of formula (XXIV) which may be reacted with an intermediate of formula (XXV) to form a compound of formula (I) wherein —X—R² is an optionally 5-substituted 1,2,4-triazole, 1,2,4-thiadiazole or 1,2,4-oxadiazole, said compounds being represented by formula (I-d-6), in a reaction-inert solvent such as, for example, methanol, butanol or a mixture thereof, and in the presence of a base such as, for example, sodium methanolate.

Compounds of formula (I-d) wherein the heterocycle is substituted 2-thiazolyl, said compounds being represented by formula (I-d-7), can be prepared by reacting an intermediate of formula (XVI) with hydrogensulfide or a functional derivative thereof, in a reaction inert solvent such as, for example, pyridine, optionally in the presence of a suitable base such as, for example, triethylamine, thus forming an intermediate of formula (XXVI), which may subsequently be reacted with an intermediate of formula (XXVII) or a functional derivative thereof such as the ketal derivative thereof, in a reaction-inert solvent such as for example, ethanol, and optionally in the presence of an acid such as, for example, hydrogenchloride.

Compounds of formula (I-d) wherein the heterocycle is substituted 5-thiazolyl and R¹ is hydrogen, said compounds being represented by formula (I-d-8), can be prepared following the reaction procedure depicted in scheme 4.

Initially, an intermediate of formula (XXVIII) wherein P is a protective group such as, for example, a C₁₋₆alkylcarbonyl group, is reacted with a thiazole derivative of formula (XXIX) in the presence of a suitable base such as, for example, butyl lithium, in a reaction inert solvent such as, for example, tetrahydrofuran, thus forming an intermediate of formula (XXX). It may be convenient to perform said reaction under an inert atmosphere at lower temperature, preferably at about −70° C. The hydroxy group and the protective group P of said intermediates (XXX) may be removed using art-known procedures such as, for example, stannous chloride and hydrochloric acid in acetic acid, thus forming an intermediate of formula (XXXI), of which the amino group may further be converted to a 6-azauracil moiety according to the procedure described in EP-A-0,170,316, thus forming a compound of formula (I-d-8).

Also, compounds of formula (I-d) wherein the heterocycle is 4-thiazolyl, said compounds being represented by formula (I-d-9), can be prepared following the reaction procedure depicted in scheme 5.

An intermediate of formula (XVIII) is reacted with a Grignard reagent of formula RCH₂MgBr or a functional derivative thereof to form an intermediate of formula (XXXII), which may be halogenated, preferably brominated, in the a-position using a suitable reagent such as trimethylphenylammonium tribromide in tetrahydrofuran, thus forming an intermediate of formula (XXXII). Said intermediate (XXXI) may then be reacted with a thioamide of formula (XXXIV) to form a compound of formula (I-d9), in a reaction-inert solvent such as, for example, ethanol, at an elevated temperature, preferably reflux temperature.

The compounds of formula (I) can also be converted into each other following art-known procedures of functional group transformation of which some examples are. mentioned hereinabove.

The compounds of formula (I) may also be converted to the corresponding N-oxide forms following art-known procedures for converting a trivalent nitrogen into its N-oxide form. Said N-oxidation reaction may generally be carried out by reacting the starting material of formula (I) with 3-phenyl-2-(phenylsulfonyl)oxaziridine or with an appropriate organic or inorganic peroxide. Appropriate inorganic peroxides comprise, for example, hydrogen peroxide, alkali metal or earth alkaline metal peroxides, e.g. sodium peroxide, potassium peroxide; appropriate organic peroxides may comprise peroxy acids such as, for example, benzenecarboperoxoic acid or halo substituted benzenecarboperoxoic acid, e.g. 3-chlorobenzenecarboperoxoic acid, peroxoalkanoic acids, e.g. peroxoacetic acid, alkylhydroperoxides, e.g. t-butyl hydroperoxide. Suitable solvents are, for example, water, lower alkanols, e.g. ethanol and the like, hydrocarbons, e.g. toluene, ketones, e.g. 2-butanone, halogenated hydrocarbons, e.g. dichloromethane, and mixtures of such solvents.

Pure stereochemically isomeric forms of the compounds of formula (I) may be obtained by the application of art-known procedures. Diastereomers may be separated by physical methods such as selective crystallization and chromatographic techniques, e.g. counter-current distribution, liquid chromatography and the like.

Some of the compounds of formula (I) and some of the intermediates in the present invention may contain an asymmetric carbon atom. Pure stereochemically isomeric forms of said compounds and said intermediates can be obtained by the application of art-known procedures. For example, diastereoisomers can be separated by physical methods such as selective crystallisation or chromatographic techniques, e.g. counter current distribution, liquid chromatography and the like methods. Enantiomers can be obtained from racemic mixtures by first converting said racemic mixtures with suitable resolving agents such as, for example, chiral acids, to mixtures of diastereomeric salts or compounds; then physically separating said mixtures of diastereomeric salts or compounds by, for example, selective crystallisation or chromatographic techniques, e.g. liquid chromatography and the like methods; and finally converting said separated diastereomeric salts or compounds into the corresponding enantiomers. Pure stereochemically isomeric forms may also be obtained from the pure stereochemically isomeric forms of the appropriate intermediates and starting materials, provided that the intervening reactions occur stereospecifically.

An alternative manner of separating the enantiomeric forms of the compounds of formula (I) and intermediates involves liquid chromatography, in particular liquid chromatography using a chiral stationary phase.

Some of the intermediates and starting materials as used in the reaction procedures mentioned hereinabove are known compounds and may be commercially available or may be prepared according to art-known procedures.

IL-5, also known as eosinophil differentiating factor (EDF) or eosinophil colony stimulating factor (Eo-CSF), is a major survival and differentiation factor for eosinophils and therefore thought to be a key player in eosinophil infiltration into tissues. There is ample evidence that eosinophil influx is an important pathogenic event in bronchial asthma and allergic diseases such as, cheilitis, irritable bowel disease, eczema, urticaria, vasculitis, vulvitis, winterfeet, atopic dermatitis, pollinosis, allergic rhinitis and allergic conjunctivitis; and other inflammatory diseases, such as eosinophilic syndrome, allergic angiitis, eosinophilic fasciitis, eosinophilic pneumonia, PIE syndrome, idiopathic eosinophilia, eosinophilic myalgia, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis and the like diseases.

The present compounds also inhibit the production of other chemokines such as monocyte chemotactic protein-1 and -3 (MCP-1 and MCP-3). MCP-1 is known to attract both T-cells, in which IL-5 production mainly occurs, and monocytes, which are known to act synergetically with eosinophils (Carr et al., 1994, Immunology, 91, 3652-3656). MCP-3 also plays a primary role in allergic inflammation as it is known to mobilize and activate basophil and eosinophil leukocytes (Baggiolini et al., 1994, Immunology Today, 15(3), 127-133).

The present compounds have no or little effect on the production of other chemokines such as IL-1, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, γ-interferon (IFN-γ) and granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) indicating that the present IL-5 inhibitors do not act as broad-spectrum immunosuppressives.

The selective chemokine inhibitory effect of the present compounds can be demonstrated by in vitro chemokine measurements in human blood. In vivo observations such as the inhibition of eosinophilia in mouse ear, the inhibition of blood eosinophilia in the Ascaris mouse model; the reduction of serum IL-5 protein production and splenic IL-5 mRNA expression induced by anti-CD3 antibody in mice and the inhibition of allergen- or Sephadex-induced pulmonary influx of eosinophils in guinea-pig are indicative for the usefulness of the present compounds in the treatment of eosinophil-dependent inflammatory diseases.

The present inhibitors of IL-5 production are particularly useful for administration via inhalation.

The intermediates of formula (XI-a) are interesting intermediates. Not only have they a particular usefulness as intermediates in the preparation of the compounds of formula (I), they also have valuable pharmacological activity.

In view of the above pharmacological properties, the compounds of formula (I) can be used as a medicine. In particular, the present compounds can be used in the manufacture of a medicament for treating eosinophil-dependent inflammatory diseases as mentioned hereinabove, more in particular bronchial asthma, atopic dertmatitis, allergic rhinitis and allergic conjunctivitis.

In view of the utility of the compounds of formula (I), there is provided a method of treating warm-blooded animals, including humans, suffering from eosinophil-dependent inflammatory diseases, in particular bronchial asthma, atopic dertmatitis, allergic rhinitis and allergic conjunctivitis. Said method comprises the systemic or topical administration of an effective amount of a compound of formula (I), a N-oxide form, a pharmaceutically acceptable addition salt or a possible stereoisomeric form thereof, to warm-blooded animals, including humans.

The present invention also provides compositions for treating eosinophil-dependent inflammatory diseases comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula (I) and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent.

To prepare the pharmaceutical compositions of this invention, a therapeutically effective amount of the particular compound, in base form or addition salt form, as the active ingredient is combined in intimate admixture with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, which may take a wide variety of forms depending on the form of preparation desired for administration. These pharmaceutical compositions are desirably in unitary dosage form suitable, preferably, for systemic administration such as parenteral administration; or topical administration such as via inhalation, a nose spray or the like. Application of said compositions may be by aerosol, e.g. with a propellent such as nitrogen, carbon dioxide, a freon, or without a propellent such as a pump spray, drops, lotions, or a semisolid such as a thickened composition which can be applied by a swab. In particular, semisolid compositions such as salves, creams, gellies, ointments and the like will conveniently be used.

It is especially advantageous to formulate the aforementioned pharmaceutical compositions in dosage unit form for ease of administration and uniformity of dosage. Dosage unit form as used in the specification and claims herein refers to physically discrete units suitable as unitary dosages, each unit containing a predetermined quantity of active ingredient calculated to produce the desired therapeutic effect in association with the required pharmaceutical carrier. Examples of such dosage unit forms are tablets (including scored or coated tablets), capsules, pills, powder packets, wafers, injectable solutions or suspensions, teaspoonfuls, tablespoonfuls and the like, and segregated multiples thereof.

In order to enhance the solubility and/or the stability of the compounds of formula (I) in pharmaceutical compositions, it can be advantageous to employ α-, β- or γ-cyclo-dextrins or their derivatives. Also co-solvents such as alcohols may improve the solubility and/or the stability of the compounds of formula (I) in pharmaceutical compositions. In the preparation of aqueous compositions, addition salts of the subject compounds are obviously more suitable due to their increased water solubility.

Appropriate cyclodextrins are α-, β-, γ-cyclodextrins or ethers and mixed ethers thereof wherein one or more of the hydroxy groups of the anhydroglucose units of the cyclo-dextrin are substituted with C₁₋₆alkyl, particularly methyl, ethyl or isopropyl, e.g. randomly methylated β-CD; hydroxyC₁₋₆alkyl, particularly hydroxyethyl, hydroxy-propyl or hydroxybutyl; carboxyC₁₋₆alkyl, particularly carboxymethyl or carboxy-ethyl; C₁₋₆alkylcarbonyl, particularly acetyl; C₁₋₆alkyloxycarbonylC₁₋₆alkyl or carboxy-C₁₋₆alkyloxyC₁₋₆alkyl, particularly carboxymethoxypropyl or carboxyethoxy-propyl; C₁₋₆alkylcarbonyloxyC₁₋₆alkyl, particularly 2-acetyloxypropyl. Especially noteworthy as complexants and/or solubilizers are β-CD, randomly methylated β-CD, 2,6-dimethyl-γ-CD, 2-hydroxyethyl-β-CD, 2-hydroxyethyl-γ-CD, 2-hydroxypropyl-γ-CD and (2-carboxymethoxy)propyl-β-CD, and in particular 2-hydroxypropyl-β-CD (2-HP-β-CD).

The term mixed ether denotes cyclodextrin derivatives wherein at least two cyclodextrin hydroxy groups are etherified with different groups such as, for example, hydroxypropyl and hydroxyethyl.

The average molar substitution (M.S.) is used as a measure of the average number of moles of alkoxy units per mole of anhydroglucose. The M.S. value can be determined by various analytical techniques, preferably, as measured by mass spectrometry, the M.S. ranges from 0.125 to 10.

The average substitution degree (D.S.) refers to the average number of substituted hydroxyls per anhydroglucose unit. The D.S. value can be determined by various analytical techniques, preferably, as measured by mass spectrometry, the D.S. ranges from 0.125 to 3.

Due to their high degree of selectivity as IL-5 inhibitors, the compounds of formula (I) as defined above, are also useful to mark or identify receptors. To this purpose, the compounds of the present invention need to be labelled, in particular by replacing, partially or completely, one or more atoms in the molecule by their radioactive isotopes. Examples of interesting labelled compounds are those compounds having at least one halo which is a radioactive isotope of iodine, bromine or fluorine; or those compounds having at least one ¹¹C-atom or tritium atom.

One particular group consists of those compounds of formula (I) wherein R⁴ and/or R⁵ are a radioactive halogen atom. In principle, any compound of formula (I) containing a halogen atom is prone for radiolabelling by replacing the halogen atom by a suitable isotope. Suitable halogen radioisotopes to this purpose are radioactive iodides, e.g. 122_(I), 123_(I), 125_(I), 131_(I); radioactive bromides, e.g. ⁷⁵Br, ⁷⁶Br, ⁷⁷Br and ⁸²Br, and radioactive fluorides, e.g. ¹⁸F. The introduction of a radioactive halogen atom can be performed by a suitable exchange reaction or by using any one of the procedures as described hereinabove to prepare halogen derivatives of formula (I).

Another interesting form of radiolabelling is by substituting a carbon atom by a ¹¹C-atom or the substitution of a hydrogen atom by a tritium atom.

Hence, said radiolabelled compounds of formula (I) can be used in a process of specifically marking receptor sites in biological material. Said process comprises the steps of (a) radiolabelling a compound of formula (I), (b) administering this radio-labelled compound to biological material and subsequently (c) detecting the emissions from the radiolabelled compound. The term biological material is meant to comprise every kind of material which has a biological origin. More in particular this term refers to tissue samples, plasma or body fluids but also to animals, specially warm-blooded animals, or parts of animals such as organs.

The radiolabelled compounds of formula (I) are also useful as agents for screening whether a test compound has the ability to occupy or bind to a particular receptor site.

The degree to which a test compound will displace a compound of formula (I) from such a particular receptor site will show the test compound ability as either an agonist, an antagonist or a mixed agonist/antagonist of said receptor.

When used in in vivo assays, the radiolabelled compounds are administered in an appropriate composition to an animal and the location of said radiolabelled compounds is detected using imaging techniques, such as, for instance, Single Photon Emission Computerized Tomography (SPECT) or Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and the like. In this manner the distribution of the particular receptor sites throughout the body can be detected and organs containing said receptor sites can be visualised by the imaging techniques mentioned hereinabove. This process of imaging an organ by administering a radiolabelled compound of formula (I) and detecting the emissions from the radioactive compound also constitutes a part of the present invention.

In general, it is contemplated that a therapeutically effective daily amount would be from 0.01 mg/kg to 50 mg/kg body weight, in particular from 0.05 mg/kg to 10 mg/kg body weight. A method of treatment may also include administering the active ingredient on a regimen of between two or four intakes per day.

EXPERIMENTAL PART A. Preparation of Compounds of Formula (I) Example A1

a) A mixture of 2-[3,5-dichloro-4-[(4-chlorophenyl)hydroxymethyl]phenyl-1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione (0.0063 mol) and 1,2-dihydro-2-thioxo-3-pyridinecarboxylic acid (0.0063 mol) was added portionwise to methanesulfonic acid (20 ml), stirred at room temperature for 2 hours. The reaction mixture was poured out into ice-water and ethylacetate was added. The organic layer was separated, washed with brine, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was stirred in boiling ethanol, filtered off, washed with diisopropyl ether and dried, yielding 3.1 g (91%) of intermediate (1) {MS (ES+) m/z 535 [MH⁺]}.

b) Reaction under N₂ atmosphere. A solution of intermediate (1) (0.00187 mol) in N,N-dimethylformamide (20 ml) was treated with 1,1′-carbonylbis-1H-imidazole (0.00373 mol) and the mixture was stirred for 12 hours at room temperature. H₂S was bubbled through the mixture for 15 to 30 minutes. Then, the reaction mixture was stirred for 2 hours. The mixture was poured out into ice-water (brine) and extracted 3 times with ethylacetate. The combined organic layers were washed with brine, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was co-evaporated 3 times with toluene, yielding 1 g (100%) of intermediate (2) {MS (ES+) m/z 551 [MH⁺]}.

c) A solution of 3-bromodihydro-2(3H)-furanone (1 mmol) in N,N-dimethylformamide (2 ml) was added dropwise to an ice-cold suspension of intermediate 2 (0.91 mmol) and NaHCO₃ (1 mmol) in N,N-dimethylformamide (5 ml). The reaction mixture was stirred for 15 minutes, and then partitioned between water (25 ml) and ethylacetate (25 ml). The organic layer was separated, washed with water (2×25 ml), dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified by silicagel chromatography (eluent: ethyl acetate/hexane, gradient from 20-80 to 80-20% (v/v)). The pure fractions were collected and their solvent evaporated, yielding 0,243 g (42%) of compound (1) {MS (ES+) m/z 635 [MH⁺]}.

Example A2

a) A mixture of intermediate 1 (0.075 mol) in SOCl₂ (300 ml) was stirred and refluxed for 2 hours. The solvent was evaporated. The residue was dissolved in toluene and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 41.6 g of intermediate 3.

b) NaBH₄ (0.495 mol) was added portionwise over 90 min to a mixture of intermediate 3 (0.075 mol) in 1,4-dioxane (500 ml), stirred at room temperature. The resulting mixture was stirred for 48 hours at room temperature, then cooled on an ice-bath. HCl (2 N) was added dropwise (until pH=2) and this mixture was extracted with CH₂Cl₂. The separated organic layer was dried, filtered and the solvent evaporated. The residue was purified over silica gel on a glass filter (eluent: CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH 97/3). The pure fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 2.2 g of intermediate 4.

c) A mixture of intermediate 4 (0.004 mol) and triethylamine (0.005 mol) in CH₂Cl₂ (40 ml) was stirred at 0-5° C. A solution of methylsulfonylchloride (0.005 mol) in CH₂Cl₂ (10 ml) was added dropwise over 15 min at 0-5° C. and the resulting reaction mixture was stirred for one hour at ±5° C. Triethylamine (0.70 ml) was added and the resulting reaction mixture was stirred for one hour at 0° C., yielding 2.4 g of intermediate 5.

d) A solution of 1-acetyl-piperazine (0.03624 mol) in CH₂Cl₂ (30 ml) was added dropwise to a solution of intermediate 5 (0.01208 mol) and triethylamine (0.0302 mol) in CH₂Cl₂ (150 ml), stirred at 0° C. The reaction mixture was stirred overnight at room temperature, then washed with a saturated NaHCO₃ solution, with brine, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent: CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH gradient from 98/2 to 95/5). The pure fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated, then co-evaporated ethylacetate. The residue was stirred in 2-methoxy-2-methylpropane, filtered off and dried, yielding 1.51 g (20%) of intermediate 6.

e) Intermediate 6 (0.00321 mol) was dissolved in 1,4-dioxane (50 ml). HCl 2N (0.05 mol) was added and the reaction mixture was stirred and refluxed for 12 hours. The reaction mixture was cooled, poured out slowly into asaturated aqueous NaHCO₃ solution (150 ml)+ice (100 g) and this mixture was extracted with CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH (90/10). The combined organic layers were washed with brine, dried, filtered and the solvent evaporated, then co-evaporated with ethylacetate. When adding ethylacetate for the second time, precipitation resulted. This precipitate was filtered off, washed with diisopropyl ether and dried, yielding 1.39 g (74%) of intermediate 7.

f) A mixture of intermediate 7 (0.0034 mol) in CH₃CN (60 ml) was stirred at room temperature. Triethylamine (1.47 ml) was added. Bromoacetic acid, ethyl ester (0.0034 mol) was added dropwise and the resulting reaction mixture was stirred for 90 min at room temperature. The solvent was evaporated. The residue was taken up into CH₂Cl₂. The organic solution was washed with water. The water layer was extracted with CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH 90/10. 2) The organic layer was washed with water, combined with the other organic layer, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. The was purified by flash column chromatography, over silica gel (eluent: CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH 99/1). The pure fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was co-evaporated with ethylacetate. The residue was stirred in diisopropylether, filtered off, washed and dried, yielding 0.44 g of compound 2.

Example A3

a) CH₂Cl₂ (20 ml) was stirred at room temperature. HCl (gas) was bubbled through the solution for 15 min. This solution was added dropwise to a solution of intermediate 4 (0.01 mol) in CH₂Cl₂ (50 ml). The HCl salt precipitated. SOCl₂ (0.05 mol) was added and the mixture was stirred and refluxed for 2 hours. SOCl₂ (3.6 ml) was added and the reaction mixture was stirred and refluxed for 2 hours. The mixture was cooled. The precipitate was filtered off. Solid and filtrate were recombined. The solvent was evaporated. More CH₂Cl₂ (70 ml) and SOCl₂ (3.6 ml) were added and the reaction mixture was stirred and refluxed for 3 hours, then cooled and the resulting precipitate was filtered off, washed with diisopropylether and dried, yielding 4 g of intermediate 8.

b) A solution of 4-methylamino-1-piperidinecarboxylic acid, 1,1-dimetheylethylester (0.02244 mol) in CH₃CN (20 ml) was added to a solution of intermediate 8 (0.00748 mol) in CH₃CN (60 ml) and the resulting reaction mixture was for 3 hours at 60° C., then overnight at room temperature. The solvent was evaporated. The residue was stirred in boiling ethylacetate, then filtered off and taken up into CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH 95/5. The organic solution was washed with brine, dried, filtered and the solvent evaporated. The residue was purified by HPLC over silica (eluent: CH₂C₂/(CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH 90/10)/CH₃OH (0 min) 100/0/0, (34 min) 65/35/0, (40 min) 50/0/50, (43 min) 0/0/100, (46.6-60 min) 100/0/0). The pure fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was stirred in diisopropylether, filtered off and dried, yielding 3.42 g (64%) of intermediate 9.

c) A mixture of intermediate 9 (0.00409 mol) in methanol (30 ml) and HCl/2-propanol (4 ml) was stirred overnight at room temperature. More HCl/2-propanol (2 ml) was added and stirring was continued for 2 hours. The reaction mixture was poured out into water (300 ml) and CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH 90/10 (400 ml) was added. The reaction mixture was neutralized by dropwise addition of a saturated aqueous NaHCO₃ solution. The layers were separated. The water layer was extracted with CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH 90/10.The combined organic layers c were dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. Ethylacetate was added and azeotroped on the rotary evaporator. The residue stirred in boiling CH₃CN, cooled, filtered off, washed with diisopropylether and dried, yielding 2.27 g (90%) intermediate 10.

d) Triethylamine (1.42 ml) was added to intermediate 10 (0.00304 mol) in dimethyl-sulfoxide (100 ml). The mixture stirred at 60° C. Then, bromo acetic acid, ethyl ester (0.00304 mol) was added and the resulting solution was allowed to cool to room temperature, and stirred overnight. The reaction mixture was poured out into water (300 ml) and this mixture was extracted with toluene. The toluene layers were combined, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified by HPLC over silica gel (eluent: CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH gradient). Two pure-fraction groups were collected and their solvent was evaporated. The desired fraction was dissolved in ethylacetate, filtered through pleated paper filter and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was stirred in n-hexane, filtered off and dried, yielding 0.87 g (41%) of compound 3.

Example A4

a) A mixture of 2-[3,5-dichloro4-[(4-chlorophenyl)hydroxymethyl]phenyl]-1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione (0:05 mol) [CAS 219981-46-1] and 6-mercapto-3-piperidinecarboxylic acid (0.05 mol) was added portionwise over 1 hour to methane-sulfonic acid (100 ml), stirred at room temperature. The reaction was stirred overnight at room temperature, then poured out into ice-water and this mixture was extracted with ethylacetate. The organic layer was separated, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 26.8 g of intermediate 11.

b) A mixture of intermediate 11 (0.05 mol) in SOCl₂ (250 ml) was stirred and refluxed for 2 hours. The solvent was evaporated. The residue was dissolved in toluene and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 27.7 g of intermediate 12.

c) NaBH₄ (0.33 mol) was added portionwise over 60 min to a mixture of intermediate 12 (0.05 mol) in 1,4-dioxane (350 ml), stirred at room temperature. The resulting reaction mixture was stirred for 2 hours at room temperature, then cooled on an ice-bath. HCl (conc.) was added dropwise until acidic. Water was added and this mixture was extracted with CH₂Cl₂. The separated organic layer was dried, filtered and the solvent evaporated. The residue was purified over silica gel on a glass filter (eluent: CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH from 98/2 to 97/3). The pure fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 10.4 g intermediate 13.

d) A mixture of SOCl₂ (0.2375 mol) in CH₂Cl₂ (200 ml) was stirred at room temperature. A mixture of intermediate 13 (0.0475 mol) in CH₂Cl₂ (50 ml) was added dropwise. The reaction mixture was stirred for 2 hours at room temperature. The solvent was evaporated. The residue was stirred in diisopropylether, filtered off and dried, yielding 23.8 g intermediate 14.

e) Triethylamine (0.001388 mol) was added to a solution of intermediate 14 (0.000347 mol) and 3-azetidinylcarboxylic acid (0.000381 mol) in CH₃CN (4 ml). The reaction mixture was stirred for 12 hours at 60° C. The desired compound was isolated and purified by HPLC (eluent gradient: CH₃CN/H₂O). The desired fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated, yield 0.009 g (5%) of compound 4.

Example A5

A mixture of intermediate 5 (0.004 mol), glycine, ethyl ester hydrochloride (0.0044 mol) and triethylamine (0.016 mol) in CH₃CN (50 ml) was stirred for 24 hours at 50° C. The solvent was evaporated. The residue was stirred in water and extracted with CH₂Cl₂. The separated organic layer was dried, filtered and the solvent evaporated. The residue was purified by flash column chromatography over silica gel (eluent: CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH from 99.5/0.5 to 98/2). The desired fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was further purified by HPLC (eluent: (0.5% NH₄OAc in H₂O)/CH₃CN/CH₃OH gradient). The pure fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was dried, yielding 0.11 g (4.5%) of compound 5.

Example A6

A solution of 4-(bromomethyl)-5-methyl-1,3-dioxol-2-one (0.0062 mol) in N,N-dimethylformamide (5ml) was added dropwise to a solution of intermediate 1 (0.00373 mol) and 1H-imidazole (0.007 mol) in in N,N-dimethylformamide (25 ml). The mixture was stirred at 60° C. overnight. The solvent was evaporated in. The residue was taken up in ethylacetate, washed with H₂O and a saturated NaCl solution. The organic layer was separated, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified by column chromatography over silicagel (eluent: hexane/ethylacetate 75/25). The desired fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified again over silica gel on a glass filter (eluent: hexane/ethylacetate 75/25 to 50/50). The pure fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was stirred in diisopropylether. The precipitate was filtered off, washed with diisopropylether and dried, yielding 0.595g (25%) of compound 6. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A compound selected from the group consisting of:

and an N-oxide, a pharmaceutically acceptable addition salt, or a stereochemically isomeric form thereof.
 2. A composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and, as active ingredient, a therapeutically effective amount of a compound as claimed in claim
 1. 3. A method for treating bronchial asthma in a patient, comprising administering a compound according to claim 1 to said patient.
 4. A process of marking a receptor comprising the steps of a) radiolabelling a compound as defined in claim 1; b) administering said radiolabelled compound to biological material, and c) detecting the emissions from the radiolabelled compound.
 5. A process of imaging an organ, comprising administering a sufficient amount of a radiolabelled compound of formula (I) as defined by claim 1, and detecting the emissions from the radioactive compound. 